By Kelly Shaw
Kelly is a member of the International Facilitation Team based in Europe.

As the beginning of a new school year dawns, sometimes the stress of how to pay for tuition sets in. Or maybe you have graduated in the spring and took the summer off, and now you are the facing the pressure of real life. Where will you find a job? How will you survive? For others still, the stresses of life, health, or one's job can get us down. Have you ever wanted to just forget about all of the worry in life, the unending questions, and just have peace filling your soul? Then here are some words for you.

"Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

For months, I had been waiting for an evaluation report from the organizers of a youth missions event. They could not send one because they had to attend to the more urgent matter of paying their bills. What aggravated their financial situation was the loss of some key volunteers because they could not get along with one of the leaders.

Long before I got involved in missions mobilization, I already had close friends who went to the mission field. One of them confided in me that it took her years to heal from the wounds of a difficult relationship with a team mate. She disclosed no details, only the pain that she had to bear while ministering in a creative access country because she had no choice but to work alongside the insensitive coworker. The reality of unresolved conflict in the mission field has sent many wor  more >

By David Shibley
David Shibley is president and founder of Global Advance.

Today in ministry it has become cool to be "laid back." But I would submit that the lost key to world evangelization is a sense of urgency. Further, it is the absence of a holy imperative that can sometimes embarrassingly juxtapose us from the spirit of the original Student Volunteer Movement.

Urgency is defined as a force or impulse that impels. Its root is literally an urge that is compelling, a deep knowing that immediate action or attention is required - and Jesus and the early church had it in abundance. Our Lord said, "I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work" (Jn. 9:4). Paul challenged us to be "redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16).

By Steve Shadrach
Steve Shadrach is the Director of Mobilization for the U.S. Center for World Mission and lives in Arkansas in the US.

I want to serve God and be obedient to His leading in my life, but I don't want to....RAISE SUPPORT!

Although it is a huge obstacle to overcome, many people have come to see it as a blessing. Even though there are stresses and pressures involved in raising and maintaining a personal support team, I would not want to live any other way. The bonds that I have formed over the years with our supporters are priceless. The stories of God building my faith during difficult times could fill a book. And most of all, when I report to that ministry assignment, there is a sense of destiny and authority there. If you want to be successful you are going to need some guidance. I have listed several resources at the end of this article that would be good for you to purchase and study.